will crows hurt chickens??

[nuchickontheblock]

This morning, right after I let my girls out into the run and returned to the house, there appeared a huge coven of crows (about 8) in the maple tree directly over their area. I only have 3 banties and the crows are bigger then my chix and outnumber them. So. . . do I need to be worried about the crows hurting or killing them? My DH thinks they are after the food that is in and around their coop and run. What to do? I need to go off to work now and for the moment the crows have departed, but I know I'll be worried all day. We don't have any protective cover over the run, although we will get some chicken wire and put it up over the top of the run probably tomorrow.

With colder weather coming and less natural forage around, will the crows think my girls are an easy meal?

 

[Gallusfarm]

Maybe so - check this out

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=187916

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Crows do eat other birds but not full size chickes as a rule. I would howevere be sure that if you have bantams that they are secure. If they misjudge their size you could be left with an injured bird wh was too big to be brought to their dinner table, ouch!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Crows will take eggs and young chicks. They will not bother grown chickens. I don't know where your bantams fall into that split. One of those tiny Seramas might be in some danger while a larger bantam would not. They are probably after the chicken food and not the chickens but I just don't know.

 

[woodmort]

I've never seen a crow bother an adult songbird so I suspect any bantams are ok. They will go after chicks and eggs but never have seen them go into a coop for them or attack an adult bird to get at the chicks. I encourage crows since they are an early warning system for hawks and owls and chase them away.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

What Ridgerunner said. Eggs and chicks, but not adult birds.

 

[easttxchick]

One good thing about the crows-they'll run the hawks off! Just watch little bitty ones and eggs.

 

[clhbubba]

I often put the really 'dirty' eggs on top of the runs for the crows. They do help keep the hawks at bay at my house. My babies are always locked up tight though.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

I love my crows! There are three that hang around and steal dog food kibbles. They chase off hawks so my rooster does not have to put himself in peril so often.

 

[RedKate]

Love to see the crows hanging out in the neighborhood because they'll chase off the Red Tails and Peregrine Falcons that hang around. I've seen them chase the hawks right down to the ground.